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Comment by orcdork | Hacker News Reader

"London [...] still notorious for violent street crime"

Which I find fairly strange all things considered - the crime index (https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings.jsp - admittedly this might not be the most accurate source) shows quite a gap between other similar cities like New York - a fairly common comparison. As a resident of a few years now, I definitely wouldn't say I felt London to have that kind of feel, if anything violent crime has the effect of being shocking because it is so uncommon.

I find it quite disheartening to see London's relatively soft-touch approach lose out over "automated" policing, there's quite a bit of grumbling lately over the reduction in actual people on the streets, mainly over police cuts.

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It is one of those glass half full things. If you have been the victim of a mugging then you will start seeing scooter-gangs everywhere, before you never noticed them and crime was only something you read about.

Incidentally these guys are quite a London thing, so if you are at the traffic lights on your bike/scooter/car and you see two or more scooters with no number plates and pillion passengers then you might want to start saying your prayers.

The former chancellor of the exchequer had his phone nabbed by the legendary moped gang thieves so it is not only in areas that are deprived where crime is a problem. Don't walk and text in Central London, you will only be asking for it.

They wear helmets and balaclavas underneath so I do not see how facial recognition can help. Only arming the public with fully automatic assault weapons can deter these ultra-violent thugs who happen to normally be only 15 years old.

"ultra-violence", great clockwork orange reference.

> a gap between other similar cities like New York

London's murder rate recently topped New York's [1]. (Granted, it's probably a statistical fluke [2].)

[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/03/londons...

[2] https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/04/03/new-york...

London has some really bad areas though.

Some really disadvantaged areas, maybe. But not really dangerous for the HN crowd unless you go looking for trouble.

There's nowhere I know of in London where I wouldn't feel safe even walking on foot, and the worst parts keep getting gentrified.

Depends on the time of day though doesn't it?

I used to study architecture, and about ten years ago (after drinking too much) decided to visit an architecturally famous but rough estate at night. (It was Robin Hood Gardens.) I walked around and the place was, most significantly, empty. I got hailed aggressively by some guys but a fast walk was enough to get out of there without being confronted.

There is danger, all right, but I think you would probably agree that it's not the obvious, conspicuous risks that lead to violent crime. It's the places that don't seem dangerous where it happens, because those are the places where victims are present and not focusing on their safety.

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